The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-25
THE DELuslvE TRADE DOLLARS.
Making Them Into Bricks at the As
say Ofnce--Treasures ofthe Vaults.


The Ne,0 York Tribune, the last "melt"
of the 1896. 633 trade dollars which
have been received at the United States
assay office in Wall street since the act
of congress authorizing their purchase
went into effect was completed. and the
limpid silver was poured into tho
moulds and transformed into silver
bricks, /, 100 to /, 200 ounces in weight.
A "melt" of silver at the
assay office means five thous-
and ounces. Therefore, in order
to make way with the whole num-
Der of the $500, 900 trade dollars about
seven "melts' were necessary. A re-
porter CHANGED to be present and stood
near the crucible when these last repre-
sentatives of a dead currency slowly
lost their individuality and became a
a shapeless, glittering mass. Their
career was not of honor.
What is denominated an Enclosure"
in one Of the vaults of the assay office
contains over four hundred cubic feet
of trade dollars which have passed
the crucible and are now stacked up in
the shape of silver bricks. The COVER
ment has paid about $S, 100000 for
them, but they are useless, Supt.
Andrew Mason says, and usless made
into standard dollars. loss of about 20
per cent would be sustained in dispos-
ing of the metal 10 manufacturers and
artisans. The furnishing of gold and
silver bars for manufacturing purposes
is. Supt. Mason says. growing bust
ness at the assay Office. During the
past year these bars. to the value Of
100000 have been sold for use in
arts and manufactures, an increase Of
80. 900. 900 over any previous year.
When the last ''melt" OF the trade.
dollars had been poured into the molds
and made into brick. the reporter OBJ
served that two small quantities, per-
haps of grain or two each. were put
into little receptacles and sent TO the
assaying-room. These" explained
Assistant Assayer j. Il. Wslder, 'are
the samples for assaying. Two are
taken from each melt" They are
each assayed by different persons. and
their work must tally. If it does not,
the work is repeated. If the two as
says fail to agree the whole melt is re-
melted and fresh samples taken. Then
the process is gone through with again.
THE greatest care is taken" said
Mr.. Wilder. ito gaurd against mac
curacies. The assaying is done by the
Gay Lussac method. The exact
amount Of metal is weighed and dis
solved in nitric acid. Then enough
chlorine is added to precip'tate pre-
cisely drachm Of pure silver. The
solution is then shaken for three min
utes In a shaking-maohine (run by
steam). after which it is allowed to set
tie. More salt water is added, every
atom of which is taken account OF. and
If any silver remains In solution it
shows a slight cloudIness. The opera
ton is repeated until no ctoudiness APP
pears, showing that no silver rem aims
in solution; that it has an been precipi-
tated. Then calculation Is made as
to the exact fineness Of the samples
of silver in the trade dollar, which Is
corrected by silver proofs. When the
fineness is thoroughly ascertained 1t IL
stamped upon the bar or brick
which has been formed by the
melted dollars. together with the value.
weight melt number. and the number
OF the bar. Then the bar or brick Is
sent to the Enclosure before mentioned,
where the other trade dollar bricks
are kept under combination safe lock-
The combination Of this as well as o.
the other safe locks in the building. Is
known only to Supt. Mason and one
other trusted Official
The antiquated building used as thu
assay office was formerly the sub-t reas
ury. 1t has been occupied for its pres
ent purposes since the year 1854. ant
the work and business done there hav
long since outgrowa it. The old tene
ment shakes perceptibly when heaVdl
loaded truck passes in the street II
front Of it. interfering with the ascer
tanning of weights upon tho delicat'
little scales used by Assistant Assaye'
Wilder, upon which he is allie to dis
cover the specific gravity Of an objec